Race

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It's not over yet!

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Everyone is back in school but there is still plenty of paddling to be had. Practice will run on our regular schedule as long as light and weather allows. This is the best time of year to come out and try paddling so bring anyone who might be interested in joining our ohana and getting out on the water.

Another congratulations to our crews at PNW challenge last weekend. Everyone did great and more than that it is amazing to see such great participation and club spirit with a 21 TCOCC paddlers comprising a beach and water change crew.

Rocking Racing Roosters!

TCOCC had great success at Rooster Rock! we fielded a mixed masters and mixed open crew that both took home first in their division despite getting caught in a pile up off the start line. We pushed up river to the rock with some favorable wind and swells. But then came a 180 turn into that same wind making for a difficult downstream run towards the final turn and the finish. Thank you to Mountain Home Canoe Club for putting on a great event as usual. Some pictures of our crews and the race are below. This race puts us well into our season and looking to stay strong and be ready for The Gorge Race next.

Rooster Rock Rally

Three crews, three medals! TCOCC had a great showing at Rooster Rock this weekend. The day started cool and overcast for the short course. Our mixed open crew put down a strong start, and mixed it it up with the unlimited canoes through the first turn downriver. After that it was a battle with Hood River Outrigger to get through the final turn and through the finish line for a first place finish.

For the mixed race we had both masters and open crew out on the course. The temps warmed up and the sun came out making for a sticky 10 mile run up and around the rock. Both crews were out near the front of the pack and our mixed masters came across the line second overall with a first place in their division. Our mixed open crew also had a strong third place showing in a crowded division of 9 crews.

Overall it was a great day for TCOCC. Having 18 paddlers representing the club at a race is a big accomplishment for us and a great sign for the future. Bringing home some hardware is icing on the cake. See the gallery below for some pictures of the day.

The Final Challenge

The last race is in the books and it was a great one! TCOCC participated in the beach change-out at the Pacific Northwest Challenge this past weekend and took home 2nd place. The course consisted of four, 5 mile laps across Lake Washington. We got out to a strong start and it quickly became a two canoe race. Through the second change we remained within contact with first, but just couldn't get even. Regardless second place is a great finish and it was great day on the water and fun way to end the season. Mahalo to Kikaha and Sand Point for putting on a great event and to Anne and Luz for joining us to fill out our crew. We'd also like to congratulate our other TCOCC paddlers who participated in the 26 mile water change-out in preparation for some upcoming Hawaii races.

Bellingham Bay Battle

Congratulations to all of our members that participated in the Bellingham race last weekend! Conditions were challenging and the competition was stifflast Saturday. We did not get the best position in the start line but quickly established a 3 canoe pack with a BBOP crew and CROCC crew that included Rich. The course change necessitated three 180 degree buoy turns. Those turns made the critical moments for our race. We capitalized on a mistake in the second turn and flew by BBOP to establish a lead that we would hold until the end of the race for a strong 4th place out of 7 in the mixed open division.

I'm a little late on the wrap up here but I wasn't able to take as many pictures as usual. The photo credits go to the BBOP photographer on these. Go check out their Facebook page for more. We also want to thank CROCC for helping us fill and find seats for our crew and to Autumn Rose for Loaning us the Canoes we raced in.

Grinding It Out!

It was a great day of racing at Alki Beach on Saturday. We had 12 members participating in 4 different crews. The course was a beautiful 12 mile paddle across the Puget Sound. Weather stayed calm and warm, making for a real test of endurance and grit throughout the race. The Tri-Cities Mixed Masters pulled out the most impressive performance of the day, finishing first of all the spec canoes in their heat! Which, of course, gave them a 1st place in their division as well. To fill out some other crews we had paddlers in with SOCC and Pacific Outrigger as well as 3 men in a hybrid crew organized by Maui Mike. Thank you to everyone who came and participated and to Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club for hosting the event. Now we look ahead to Bellingham in two weeks and our last race, the Pacific Northwest Challenge the week after.

Race Around the Island Wrap-up

It was a great weekend of racing at Chinook landing Marine Park. After the traditional team dinner at Shirley's Tippy Canoe we started early by unloading and rigging Lokahi then putting her down in the water. The opening ceremonies that commenced shortly after were a beautiful tribute to Aunty Jean and Lance Kahn.

Our mixed open team had a little help from Ila, a SOCC paddler that filled out the crew. They went out on the long course upstream into a strong current off the start. After the first turn a battle was quickly established that would shape the rest of the race. There was a constant back and forth with the team from hood river breathing down their neck all the way until the finish. The crew never gave up ground and in the end were able to take 2nd place in the Mixed Open Division. This is a great result for the team amongst a stiff field of competition! Not only that but they finished third among all the spec canoes in the morning race and even had a better time than one of the unlimiteds.

After a short break the short course crew were ready to take to the water. Matt and Nessa had to pull double duty and get the unofficial award for most miles paddled. The competition was lean but fierce with one other OC-6 and a slew of small boats in the field. A last minute course change made for a difficult cross-current route to the other side of the island. TCOCC started in front but gave up ground as the course turned around the island. It was a valiant effort coming back up-river but the crew would finish just behind the other OC-6. However, all that will be written in the history books is a first place in the Mens Open division!

Check out the gallery below for some pictures and a video of the start from Matt's 360 camera. It was a fun weekend and a great start to our 2017 race season.

Congratulations RATI Crews!

It was a great day of racing at RATI. Our Mixed open long course took home 2nd place and the mixed open short course came in 1st! Look out for some pictures later this week.

We will be resuming our normal practice schedule on Monday night, if we can get as many people as possible there early, that will help make unloading the trailer and rerrigging the race boats smooth and fast.